Method of and apparatus for laying reenforced concrete



Aprii 13, 1937. W DAY 2,077,356

AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING REENFORCED CONCRETE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 METHOD OF Filed Nov. 2]., 1954 'INVENTOR. W 1 (44 ATTORNEY.

A ril13,1937. w P, DAY 2,077,356

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING REENFORCED CONCRETE i 2. 9A7INVENTOR. BY @w/Md ATTORNEY.

W. P. DAY

April 13, 1937.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING REENFORCED CONCRETE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 21, 1934 ATTORNEY.

W. P. DAY

April 13, 1937.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING REENFORCED CONCRETE Filed Nov. 21, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

W. P. DAY

April 13, 1937.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING REENFORCED CONCRETE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 21, 1934 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

w. P. DAY 2,077,356

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING REENFORCED CONCRETE A ril 13, 1937.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 21, 1954 M 4 m m H o M/ VF, l6.

j & INVENTOR. BY I 7 ATTORNEY.

j I ET Eff;

Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING REENFORCED CONCRETE William P. Day, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to International Vibration Company,

Cleveland,

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for laying reenforced concrete. The apparatus is particularly designed for building concrete roads such as a street or highway although the method may be used in building a roadbed for railways.

In modern roads it is customary and desirable to incorporate into the road a reenforcement usually in the form of a metal screen or grid which serves to strengthen the roadbed. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a method of laying concrete in a roadbed construction in which the concrete is caused to adhere to and bond with the metal reenforcement. This result is accomplished by imparting rapid and violent vibrations to the reenforcement or grid while the concrete is still soft. These vibrations cause the concrete to settle and to form a bond with the reenforcement and to eliminate voids or air pockets in the concrete.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for laying reenforced concrete which includes a vibrator having a plurality of plates or projections adapted to project below the surface of the concrete and to engage the reenforcement thereof to force the reenforcement into the concrete while applying rapid and violent vibrations thereto and which is also provided with means for imparting rapid and violent vibrations to the surface of the concrete, all of these operations being carried out while the concrete is soft and in a plastic condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which is efficient and dependable in operation and which layer of concrete and a reenforcement and vibrating the concrete by applying vibrations directly to the reenforcement and also applying rapid and violent vibrations to the surface of the concrete while it is still soft.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will practice the method herein described.

Further and more limited objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of my apparatus for laying reenforced concrete on a roadbed; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a view in rear eleva- 'tion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. l is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View disclosing certain details of the vibrator units; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view of one of the vibrators; Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of a slightly modified form of pulsating surfacer; Fig. 10 is an inverted fragmentary perspective view showing the face of the finisher; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in side elevation disclosing a slightly modified form of pulsating surfacer; Fig. 12 is a broken vertical sectional view on the line I2I2.

Referring now to the drawings the reference character I designates a rectangular frame preferably formed of heavy metal and to which are secured brackets 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and I. Extending transverselyof the frame I are a pair of metal bars, or beams 8 and 9 and on which is supported an electric motor M from which extends a shaft II).v Also extending transversely of the frame is a supporting plate II. Carried by the plate II is a housing I2 in which is arranged suitable take off gearing. The shaft I0 extends into this housing and is operatively connected with the take off gearing (not shown). Leading from this housing are a pair of shafts I3 and I4. Disposed at one side of the frame and carried by the plate I I is a transmission T. Also carried by the frame I is a housing I5 from which leads a shaft I6. The shaft I6 is driven from the shaft I3, through the medium of a clutch I'I, transmission T and suitable reducing gearing arranged within the housing I5. The reference character I8 designates a housing in which is arranged suitable differential gearing with which the shaft I6 is operatively connected. Leading from the differential housing are a pair of shafts I9 and 20. The outer end of the shaft I9 projects throughthe bracket 2 and non-rotatably secured thereto is a wheel 2 I. The outer end of the shaft 253 extends through the bracket 3 and non-rotatably secured thereto is a wheel 22. The construction just described provides a driving connection between the motor M and the wheels 21 and 22 and this driving connection may be disconnected by means of a lever apart a slight distance. Disposed between the bars 28 and 28* and extending downwardly therefrom is a link 30 and disposed between the bars 29 and 29 and extending downwardly therefrom is a link 3|. The links 3|] and 3| are each reenforced and braced by means of a brace 32 one of which is shown in Fig. 4. Pivotally secured to the lower end of the link 30 is a draw bar 33 the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. Also disposed between the bars 28 and 28 are a pair of threaded rods 34, 35 and disposed between the bars 29 and 29 are a pair of threaded rods 36 and 31. Disposed between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle is a rectangular frame 38 having a pair of top plates 39 and 39 to which the lower ends of the threaded rods 34, 35, 36 and 31 are secured by means of suitable nuts and washers.

Extending transversely of the frame 38 are a plurality of pairs of spaced plates 49 and 4|. Disposed between each of the pairs of plates 40 and 4| is a vibrating bar or plate 42 the forward end of which is pivotally secured to the forward ends of the plates 40 and 4| by means of a bolt or pin 43. The rear end of each of the plates 42 is secured to the plates 49 and 4| by means of a pin or bolt 44. A plurality of openings 45 are provided in the rear end of each of the plates 42 so that the position of the rear ends of the plates may be adjusted. Each of the plates 42 is shaped as shown most clearly in Fig. 4.

The front bar 46 of the frame 38 is provided with a pair of brackets 41 to which the drawbars 33 are pivotally secured. It will therefore be seen that the frame 38 is disposed between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle and may be adjusted vertically by means of the threaded rods 34, 35 and 36, 31 and held in the adjusted position by means of suitable nuts and washers provided on the rods. Mounted on each of the plates 39 and 39 is a housing 48 in which is arranged the vibrator unit shown in detail in Figs. '7 and 8. Closing the upper end of the housing 48 is a cap plate 49 which is held in place by suitable bolts 59. Also arranged in the housing 48 is a block 5|. Extending into the vibrator is a vibrator shaft 52 which is journaled in suitable bearings and to the outer end of which is secured a pulley 53 which is held thereon by a suitable lock nut 54 and cotter pin 55. Carried by the lower end of the shaft is a circular block or disk 56 which is heavier at one side than the other.

Carried on the frame I is a housing 5'! in which is arranged a shaft on the lower end of which is mounted a pair of pulleys 58 and 59. Journaled in suitable bearings on the plate H is a shaft 60 which is operatively connected with the shaft |4 through the medium of a clutch 6| which is controlled by means of a clutch lever 62. The shaft 66 drives the shaft on which the pulleys 58 and 59 are mounted. The pulley 58 drives the pulley 53 through the medium of a flexible belt or chain 63. It will therefore be seen that the motor M drives the shaft 52 of the vibrator unit at a very high rate of speed, preferably between 3500 and 4000 revolutions per minute, and that these vibrations which are very rapid and violent are imparted to the frame 39 which carries the pivotally mounted plates 42. The motor M also functions to move the vehicle forward or backward as desired, the transmission T being provided with a reversing lever 64 for this purpose.

Disposed rearwardly of the rear wheels of the vehicle is a frame 65 which is rectangular in shape and made up of a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending bars or plates. This member will be referred to herein as a pulsating surfacer and is shown somewhat in detail in Fig. 5. Secured to the opposite ends of the pulsating surfacer are a pair of angle irons 66 and 6! the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The pulsating surfacer is connected with the vibrator unit 38 by means of a pair of links or drawbars G8. Secured to the top of and extending transversely of the pulsating surfacer is a plate 69 on which is mounted a casing or housing .8 which encloses a vibrator unit identical with the vibrator unit shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Secured to the upper end of this vibrator unit is a pulley 10 which is driven from the pulley 59 by means of a flexible belt or chain H. It will thus be seen that the vibrator unit 48 is driven from the motor M at a high rate of speed and that rapid and violent vibrations will be imparted to the pulsating surfacer 65.

Supported by the bars 8 and 9 is a plate 12 and journaled in suitable bearings mounted thereon is a shaft 73 which projects therefrom and which is driven from the shaft 60 through the medium of a shaft 74 and suitable worm gearing mounted in the housing 15. Extending rearwardly from the frame I is a bracket 16 which is reenforced by a pair of brace members ll and 18. Journaled in suitable bearings 19 and carried by the bracket 16 is a shaft 8| to the rear end of which is nonrotatably secured a pulley 82. Non-rotatably carried by the shaft 13 is a pulley 83 which drives the pulley 82 and shaft 8| through the medium of a chain or flexible belt 84.

Projecting rearwardly from the rear face of the pulsating surfacer are a plurality of bars 85 and supported thereon is a somewhat T-shaped bar 86 which will be referred to herein as a finishing bar. This finishing bar 86 is given a reciprocatory movement by means of a link or crank 81 which is pivotally connected thereto as shown at 88 and connected at its opposite end with a crank 89 carried by the end of the shaft 8|. It will therefore be seen that the finishing bar is given a slight reciprocatory movement as the vehicle is moved over the road. The finishing bar is provided on its bottom face with a plurality of projections 86 which as the machine is moved forward form grooves in the surface of the concrete in the form of a sine curve.

When it is desired to lay a reenforced concrete road, a pair of form boards or rails R and R are provided at each side of the road and held in place by any suitable means such as shown in Fig. 3. These rails or form boards R and R are preferably in the form of heavy metal rails and are shaped in section as shown in Fig. 3. After these rails have been put in place, the vehicle is mounted on the rails. A suitable quantity of concrete of proper consistency is then deposited between the rails R and R along with a reenforcing mesh or grid G, as shown in Fig. 4. The vibrator unit 38 is adjusted to proper position by adjusting the threaded rods 34, 35, 36, 3! depending upon the depth to which it is desired to force the reenforcing grid. The vibrator plates 42 are also adjusted to obtain the proper height of the rear ends thereof. The motor M is then started and the clutch lever 64 operated to impart a forward movement to the vehicle. It will now be seen that rapid and violent vibrations will be imparted both to the vibrator unit 38 and to the pulsating surfacer 65.

The vibrator plates 42 will engage the reenforcing grid G and force it down into the concrete and the vibrations will be imparted to this grid to cause the concrete to adhere to and bond with the grid. Rapid and violent vibrations will also be imparted to the surface of the concrete by means of the pulsating surfacer. The finishing bar 86 will also be given a slow reciprocatory movement to impart a finish to the concrete. The vibration of the concrete and the reenforcement, in addition to causing the concrete to adhere to the reenforcement, also causes the water in the concrete to rise to the surface and causes the concrete to settle and to eliminate or reduce to a minimum the voids or air pockets. The vehicle is moved over the roadbed preferably at a rate of from three to ten feet per minute depending upon the consistency of the concrete and temperature and weather conditions.

In Fig. 9 there is disclosed a slightly modified form of pulsating surfacer which consists of a channel 65 to the opposite ends of which are secured angle irons 66 This form of pulsating surfacer functions and operates in exactly the same manner as the pulsating surfacer 65, the chief difference being that this modified form of pulsating surfacer is in the form of a channel to which the vibrator unit may be secured in any suitable manner. Both surfacers have a relatively large effective surface contact with the concrete.

In Fig. 11 I have disclosed a modified form of my vibrating apparatus which is particularly adapted for use in laying roadbeds for railways. In this form of apparatus the pulsating surfacer consists essentially of a channel or screed I on which the vibrator unit I0] is mounted. The top of the vibrator unit is operated through the medium of a pulley I02 which is operated by means of a belt I03 through suitable mechanism carried by the vehicle which is indicated generally by the reference character V. Secured to the front of the channel I0! is a plate H14 which may be secured thereto in any suitable manner as by welding. Also secured to the channel H!!! are a plurality of plates or bars I05 which are shaped as shown most clearly in Fig. 11 and adapted to project downwardly into the concrete and to engage the grid or reenforcement G. This apparatus is particularly adapted for use in laying a roadbed between and along the rails of a railroad. The reference characters I86 and I0"! designate the rails of a railroad track. In the operation of the device the pulsating surfacer is pulled along the rails and may rest thereon as shown in Fig. 12. The vibrator unit and the mechanism for operating the same and the means for raising and lowering the pulsating surfacer are disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 572,616, filed November 2, 1931. Also carried by the channel I00 and disposed at opposite sides thereover are a pair of lugs or projections 38 and I09 which are disposed so as to remove the concrete adjacent the inner edges of the rails. This form of apparatus operates and functions in the same manner as the apparatus described in connection with the preferred embodiment of my invention, the chief difference being that the pulsating surfacer is provided with the plates I05 which engage the grid and force it into the concrete and impart vibrations thereto.

It will now be clear that I have provided a method of laying reenforced concrete for roadbed construction and an apparatus for performing the method which will accomplish the objects of the invention as hereinbefore stated. It will of course be understood that other and different apparatus may be used to practice the method and that various changes may be made in the details of construction of the apparatus without departing from the spirit of my invention as the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is to be considered merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense as the invention is limited only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparatus for applying reenforced concrete to a roadbed and for vibrating the same comprising a vehicle adapted to be moved along the roadbed, a vibratory unit carried by said vehicle and extending entirely across the roadbed and including a plurality of plates, means for applying rapid and violent vibrations to said plates, means for lowering said plates to a position where they will engage the reenforcement and submerge the same within the concrete as the vehicle is moved over the roadbed in a continuous operation.

2. An apparatus for applying reenforced concrete to a roadbed comprising a vehicle adapted to be moved along the roadbed, a vibratory unit carried by the vehicle and extending entirely across the roadbed and including a plurality of plates adapted to be moved to a position to engage the reenforcement and to force the same into the concrete as the vehicle is moved over the road in a continuous operation, and means for imparting rapid and violent vibrations to said plates.

3. An apparatus for applying reenforced concrete to a roadbed comprising a vehicle adapted to be moved along the roadbed, a vibratory unit carried by the vehicle and including a plurality of plates adapted to be moved to a position to engage the reenforcement to force the same into the concrete as the vehicle moves over the road, a pulsating surfacer carried by the vehicle and adapted to engage the surface of the concrete and means for imparting rapid and violent vibrations to said plates and to said pulsating surfacer.

4'. An apparatus for applying vibrations to re-;

enforced concrete in a roadbed construction comprising a screed, a vibrator unit carried by said screed for imparting rapid and violent vibrations thereto, a plurality of projections carried by said screed and projecting downwardly therefrom and adapted to engage a reenforcement in the concrete and to impart the vibrations thereto, said projections being shaped and disposed so as to force the reenforcement into the concrete as the screed is moved over the surface of the concrete.

5. An apparatus for laying reenforced concrete comprising a vehicle adapted to be moved along the roadbed and having thereon a vibrating unit which includes a plurality of vibrating members, portions of which project below the surface of the concrete and engage a reenforcing grid at a plurality of spaced points, means for applying rapid and violent vibrations to said vibratory members and reenforcing grid whereby such vibrations are imparted to said grid and concrete over a substantial area thereof, whereby to cause said concrete to settle and to bond with said grid.

6. The method of forming a roadbed of reenforced concrete which consists in applying to r the roadbed a layer of concrete and a reenforcing grid which extends substantially across the road being laid and applying rapid and violent vibrations to said grid at a plurality of spaced points 5 below the surface of the concrete and over substantially the entire area of said grid for a suf-. ficient period of time to cause the concrete to settle and to bond with said grid.

'7. The method of forming a roadbed of reenforced concrete which includes the steps of applying to the roadbed a layer of concrete and a reenforcing grid and advancingly submerging said grid in the concrete while applying rapid and violent vibrations to said grid at a plurality of spaced points over a substantial area thereof, whereby to cause the concrete to settle and to bond with said reenforoing grid.

WILLIAM P. DAY. 

